BOSTON (Reuters) – The first trial in the “Operation Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal is headed to a jury this week https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/final-arguments-expected-1st-us-college-admissions-scandal-trial-2021-10-06. This is an overview of the main figures involved and what the consequences were.

RATE

Federal prosecutors have charged 57 individuals in connection with the biggest U.S. college admissions scam ever discovered. Wealthy parents conspired to help their children get into top universities. This was done by falsifying entrance tests and paying coaches to treat them like athletes.

The parents of those charged are the consultants who created the plan and officials from the university.

PLAEADED GUILTY

So far, 47 people including 33 parents have pleaded guilty to the crime or made an agreement. William “Rick” Singer (California college admissions consultant) was among them.

Actresses Lori Loughlin, Felicity Huffman and Mossimo Giannulli were among the parents who pleaded guilty. Michelle Janavs was also a victim. Michelle Janavs’ family company invented Hot Pockets microwavable snacks. Manuel Henriquez was formerly CEO of Hercules Capital (NYSE:) Inc.

Recently, Gordon Ernst (a former Georgetown University tennis coach) pleaded guilty on September 15 to accusations that he took bribes in order to aid the Singer children as fake recruits.

PLED NOT GUILTY

Gamal Aziz (64), a former casino executive, and John Wilson (62), a founder of private equity firm John Wilson are the two fathers currently on trial. They were among the ones who pleaded not guilty.

U.S. District Judge Nathaniel Gorton has ordered the joint trial of the parents and the couple. In January, Gregory Colburn of Palo Alto and I-Hin Chen (businessman) will be tried.

Many college officials accused of accepting bribes also denied wrongdoing. Jovan Vavic (ex-University of Southern California waterpolo coach) and Donna Heinel (ex-senior associate athletic director at school), are both currently facing trial. However, a judge said on October 4 that she would let them stand trial separately.

SENTENCES

Singer, who was a cooperating testimony for the government has not yet been sentenced.

Huffman, who had pleaded guilty before the trial, was sentenced only to two weeks in prison. Loughlin was sentenced for two months while her husband received five months. Douglas Hodge (ex-chief executive of Pimco investment company) was sentenced to the longest term of any defendant: nine months imprisonment.

The parents have had to perform community work and pay fines after losing high-powered positions. Hodge also got two years probation, 500 hours of community work, and a $750,000 penalty.

Ex-President Donald Trump granted pardon to Robert Zangrillo, a Miami investor.

CHILDREN

The case did not involve any of the children. The majority of parents stated that their children knew nothing about the incident.

In 2019, Yale, Georgetown, and Stanford pulled admission offers from students or expelled them after the scandal. Huffman’s daughter, who was on her way to the Juilliard School auditions, received an invitation from the school. Huffman wrote this court.

Only a few children were allowed to enroll or continue in school.

They were also embarrassed publicly. The court heard from one mother that her daughter was having panic attacks. Janavs’ daughters were barred from the campus by their private school. They could not attend events like graduation.